Patients will suffer as Gauteng doctors overtime is slashed

2 May 2024

A new system of overtime approvals threatens to cut the overtime of doctors in Gauteng public hospitals by a quarter as the overtime budget has been slashed from R3.45 billion to R2.65 billion.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to the MEC, the overtime changes have been made “to address inequalities and irregularities on the approval and management of Commuted Overtime.”

She says this will lead to a reduction in paid overtime “where there are disparities on the payment of certain categories of clinicians.”

But doctors are up in arms by what they see as the centralisation of overtime approvals that will lead to delays and cuts in their overtime payments.

They have been forced to sign new three-month overtime contracts and many were not paid overtime for April this year.

Whereas R3.45 billion was spent in the last financial year ending on 31 March, only R2.65 million is budgeted for this year, justifying fears that they will suffer a large pay cut.

The Department claims the overtime budget cut in the new financial year starting from April is due to terminations, promotions and new appointees.

This is a poor excuse which covers up the fact that patients in short-staffed hospitals will suffer as less overtime will be worked by essential doctors.

It’s another reason for disgruntled doctors to leave the public health service.

The Democratic Alliance calls on the Gauteng Health Department to listen to the concerns of doctors and ensure there is an adequate budget for justified overtime.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 2 May 2024